Page 22 of Fairy's Forbidden Touch
“A crude approximation, but essentially correct,” he confirmed. “Such bonds are exceedingly rare. The last confirmed case was over three centuries ago.”
The implications were beginning to sink in. “And people think that’s what we have? This… magical bond thing?”
“Many do, yes.” His eyes met mine directly. “Including my parents, the King and Queen.”
Holy shit.
“Your parents know about me?” I asked weakly.
“They have known since the first night you touched me without harm,” he admitted. “Nothing occurs in the realm without their awareness, particularly regarding me.”
My head was spinning. “So for six weeks, the fairy king and queen have known about us? And they think we’re… magically bonded?”
“Fae,” he corrected automatically. “And yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
He looked genuinely remorseful. “I did not wish to burden you with the politics and expectations of my world. I wanted what grew between us to do so naturally, without external pressure.”
That was… actually rather sweet, if potentially misguided.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “So your parents and the court think we have some magical bond. What does that mean for us? For… whatever this is?” I gestured between us, suddenly acutely aware that we’d never actually defined our relationship.
Thalen’s expression turned grave. “Traditionally, such a bond would be formally acknowledged. The human counterpart would be brought into the court as a consort to the crown prince, with all the responsibilities and privileges that entails.”
I blinked. “Are you saying they expect me to become some kind of… fairy prince consort?”
“Fae,” he corrected again, more gently this time. “And yes, that would be the traditional path.”
“But I’m just… me,” I protested. “A human who can’t even keep his life together without help. I work in a café, Thalen. I just got my first apartment at twenty-six. I’m not consort material.”
His cool hands captured mine, squeezing gently. “You are far more than you give yourself credit for, Jesse. Your spirit, your resilience, your capacity for joy despite adversity—these are qualities valued highly among the fae.”
“Still,” I insisted. “There must be some mistake. Why would I be able to touch you if hundreds of other humans can’t? It doesn’t make sense.”
“The bond manifests between souls that resonate at complementary frequencies,” he explained. “It cannot be predicted or forced. It simply… is.”
I stood up, needing to move as I processed this information. “So what happens now? Are your parents summoning me to fairy court or something?”
“They have expressed a desire to meet you,” he confirmed. “But I told them it would happen in your time, not theirs. I will not force you into anything, Jesse.”
The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache. Despite the absurdity of the situation, I believed him—he wasn’t trying to trap me or manipulate me. He was caught in this unexpected situation just as I was.
“And what do you want?” I asked, turning to face him. “Not what tradition says, not what your parents expect. What do you, Thalen, actually want?”
He stood, moving to stand before me with unexpected vulnerability in his expression. “I want you,” he said simply. “In whatever capacity you are willing to give yourself. If that means merely continuing as we have been, I would accept it gratefully. If it means more…” He trailed off, leaving the possibility hanging between us.
“More,” I repeated. “Like… fairy prince consort more?”
“Like partnership,” he clarified. “Like building something meaningful together, bridging our worlds. The title is secondary to the bond itself.”
I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. “This is a lot to process, Thalen. Two months ago I didn’t even know fae existed, and now I’m apparently magically bonded to their crown prince.”
“I understand,” he said gently. “I do not expect an immediate answer.”
“But there’s more, isn’t there?” I guessed, reading the continued tension in his posture. “Something else you haven’t told me.”
He hesitated, then nodded. “There are… elements in the court who view human-fae bonds with suspicion. Who believe such connections weaken our bloodlines and compromise our magic.”
